Saving the last mouth brooding frogs: is chytridiomycosis driving darwin's frogs to extiction?

Abstract:

Darwin's frogs (Rhinoderma darwinii and R. rufum) are two species of mouth
brooding frogs from Chile and Argentina , which have experienced marked population
declines including in undisturbed ecosystems. Rhinoderma rufum has not been recorded
since 1980. In this context amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by infection with the
non-hyphal, zoosporic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been
hypothesized to be involved in these enigmatic declines. Current evidence indicates the
recent global spread of a panzootic strain (BdGPL) of this often-fatal pathogen via the
amphibian trade. The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) in particular, has been
implicated as a vector of BdGPL. Here, I present evidence on the extent of declines,
current distribution , abundance and conservation status of Rhinoderma spp. and
investigate whether X. laevis can act as a vector of Bd to two native amphibians of
central Chile. Also, 1 describe historical and current evidence for Bd infection in
Rhinoderma spp. to investigate whether chytridiomycosis is implicated in the population
decline of R. darwinii and the presumed extinction of R. rufum